Q – Salaamu Alaikum Ya Sheikh. I had an affair with a man a week to my wedding with a different man. Some months later I discovered that I am pregnant for the first man not my husband. I had a miscarriage and later became pregnant for my husband. Until now nobody knew about this, at times I feel like confessing. My question here is please how valid is my marriage and how does this affect my child Islamically? Anonymous, Abuja A – If this immoral action came after the marriage contract was done, even if it was before the…
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FIFA will pay total prize money of one billion dollars to participants in the Club World Cup taking place in the United States this year, a source close to negotiations told AFP on Wednesday. The figure is significantly more than the prize money offered for either the last men’s or women’s World Cups. World football’s governing body has given few details about the funding of the first edition of the 32-team tournament that will take place every four years but it has signed up a broadcaster and major sponsors in recent weeks. British streaming service DAZN was awarded the exclusive…
THE £2.5 billion generated from the sale of Chelsea Football Club remains frozen in a UK bank account—three years after it was announced that the funds would be used to support humanitarian causes following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Roman Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea, was compelled by the UK government to sell the Premier League club in May 2022, following Russia’s invasion in February. On March 2, 2022, Abramovich released a statement pledging that “all net proceeds from the sale will be donated for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine.” The Foreign Office has confirmed…
PALESTINIANS in Gaza told Al Jazeera that Israel’s latest blockade of the flow of humanitarian aid has caused severe food shortages and high prices at a time when the entirety of the territory’s population is facing enormous needs — and as many are fasting during the day for the holy month of Ramadan. “There was already a shortage of goods even before the closures, and this has only made the situation worse, increasing the suffering of the people,” said Fathi Abu al-Ula, in Khan Younis. “Prices have skyrocketed, rising to three or even four times what they were—especially for vegetables…
A DIVIDED US Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a bid by President Donald Trump to freeze some $2 billion in foreign aid payments. The court, in its first significant ruling on a legal challenge to Trump, voted 5-4 to uphold a lower court ruling requiring the administration to make payments on contracts which have already been completed. The justices said the federal judge who ordered the resumption of payments for contracts with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and State Department “should clarify what obligations the Government must fulfill.” Conservatives John Roberts, the chief justice, and Amy Coney Barrett,…
LESOTHO’s government says it is shocked by US President Donald Trump saying that “nobody has ever heard of” the southern African nation. Trump, addressing the US Congress in his first speech since his return to the Oval Office, made the reference as he listed cuts made to what he said was wasteful expenditure. “Eight million dollars to promote LGBTQI+ in the African nation of Lesotho, which nobody has ever heard of,” Trump said, eliciting laughter from some US lawmakers. A spokesperson for Lesotho’s foreign affairs department told the BBC that Lesotho enjoyed “warm and cordial” relations with the US. Lesotho…
SECURITY forces in South Sudan have arrested the oil minister and an army general, who are senior members of the main opposition, sparking concerns that the peace deal that ended the civil war may be under threat. Gen Gabriel Doup Lam and Puot Kang Chol, high-ranking figures of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), are both allies of Vice-President Riek Machar, a rival of President Salva Kiir. Its military spokesperson Col Lam Gabriel Paul told the BBC that the government had given no reasons for the arrests. South Sudan is the world’s newest nation, after seceding from Sudan…
Q: Salaamu Alaikum Ya Sheikh. If a calamity befalls a Muslim, how can we know whether it is a punishment for his sins or a test to raise him in status? Nasiba Ahmed Koki, Kano A: Praise be to Allaah. According to the Qur’an and Sunnah, there are two direct causes for calamities and trials, in addition to the wisdom of Allah, may He be exalted, in what He wills and decrees. Sins and acts of disobedience that the person has committed, whether they constitute kufr or are no more than regular sins or are major sins. Allah, may He…
ARSENAL demolished PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands to take a commanding lead into the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. The Gunners scored three goals in the first half and four goals in the second half to all but confirm their place in the quarter-finals of the competition. Ismael Saibari hit the crossbar early on for the home side but Arsenal took control after Jurrien Timber scored Arsenal’s opener in the 18th minute. Ethan Nwaneri doubled Arsenal’s lead just three minutes later when Myles Lewis-Skelly cleverly cut the ball back for the 17-year-old to powerfully score past Walter…
ARAB leaders have endorsed an Egyptian plan for the reconstruction of war-shattered Gaza that would allow its residents to remain in the territory, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has said. At the meeting in Cairo on Tuesday, the regional leaders endorsed the counterproposal to US President Donald Trump’s plan to expel Gaza’s 2.3 million residents and redevelop the Palestinian territory. The attendees at the summit included the emir of Qatar, the vice president of the United Arab Emirates and the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia. United Nations Secretary-General Antonios Guterres also attended. Egypt’s plan includes an initial recovery phase aimed…
US President Donald Trump has warned Canada that he will escalate his trade war after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced retaliatory tariffs on US goods. Trump’s 25-percent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada took effect on Tuesday, prompting Trudeau to announce retaliatory tariffs on more than $100bn of American goods that will take effect over 21 days. The US president responded on Truth Social, the social media platform he owns, saying: “Please explain to Governor Trudeau, of Canada, that when he puts on a Retaliatory Tariff on the US, our Reciprocal Tariff will immediately increase by a like amount!”…
A MASS trial of around 40 prominent opposition figures began in Tunisia on Tuesday, in a case that lawyers, relatives and rights groups say is politically motivated. Diplomats, politicians, lawyers, and journalists who are critical of President Kaïs Saïed are among the defendants. They could face the death penalty if found guilty of charges which include “plotting against state security” and “belonging to a terrorist group”. Human Rights Watch has labelled it a “mockery of a trial” based on “abusive charges”, while the UN recently urged Tunisian authorities to end “all forms of persecution of political opponents”. The country’s foreign…
THE UK government has said it will not send further payments to Rwanda following the cancellation of the migrant deal between the two countries. On Monday, Rwanda’s government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said the UK had asked Rwanda to “quietly forgo” the remaining payment – reportedly amounting to £50m ($64m) – based on “trust and good faith”. However, Rwanda has now asked the UK to pay the remainder of the money it says it is owed, accusing the UK of breaching trust by suspending some aid to the country. In a statement, a UK government spokesperson said that “no further payments…
FORMER Fifa president Sepp Blatter and French football legend Michel Platini are back in court in Switzerland to face accusations of fraud. In 2022, the pair were acquitted in a trial over a payment of 2m Swiss francs (£1.6m) made to Platini and authorised by Blatter in 2011. Both men denied wrongdoing and said the transfer was belated payment for Fifa advisory work by Platini, who formerly led European football’s governing body Uefa. But the Swiss federal prosecutor appealed against the decision. The new trial is expected to last until Thursday, with a verdict due on 25 March. The pair…
ISRAEL’s prime minister, Netanyahu warns Hamas of consequences it ‘cannot imagine’ if captives not freed Netanyahu made the remarks during a speech at the Israeli parliament. “I tell Hamas: If you do not release our hostages, there will be consequences that you cannot imagine,” Netanyahu said. Netanyahu then praised the US president’s proposal to empty Gaza of its population as “brave and innovative”. “We must support it. We support it fully,” he said, according to the Times of Israel. “The time has come to give them the freedom to leave. The time has come to give them the freedom to…
PRINCE Hisahito, the Japanese imperial family’s last hope for the monarchy’s long-term survival — unless succession rules change — said marriage is not on his mind yet in his first press conference on Monday. Only males can ascend the ancient Chrysanthemum Throne and women leave the imperial family if they marry a commoner, with their offspring having no royal status. But Hisahito, who turned 18 in September and is second in line to become emperor after his father, said it was much too early for him to consider tying the knot. “Regarding marriage, I have not yet thought deeply about…
THE mother of a six-year-old girl who disappeared more than a year ago in South Africa has gone on trial accused of organising her kidnapping. Kelly Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and their friend Steveno van Rhyn were arrested after Smith’s daughter, Joshlin, went missing from outside her home in Saldanha Bay, near Cape Town, in February last year. Joshlin’s disappearance sent shockwaves across South Africa and despite a highly publicised search for her, she is yet to be found. All three have pleaded not guilty to charges of human trafficking and kidnapping. Ms Smith initially said that Joshlin had…
DESPITE growing international pressure, the Democratic Republic of Congo is standing firm on its decision not to have direct talks with the M23 rebel group that has made major advances in the east of the country in recent months. Last week, the UK government added to calls for the group to be part of an “inclusive dialogue” to help find a political solution to the conflict. But in an interview with the BBC, DR Congo Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka said her government wants to negotiate with neighbouring Rwanda, which it accuses of backing the M23. At least 8,500 people…
Q – Salaamu Alaikum Malam. A person owns a piece of land and one year has passed since he acquired it. Zakaah is due because it comes under the heading of trade goods (i.e., he bought it in order to sell it). How should he pay zakaah on it? Please note that he only has a little cash, very little? Shaheed Ahmad, Borno A – Zakkaah is due on trade goods according to the Qur’aan and Sunnah. In the Qur’aan this is indicated by the general meaning of the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “O you…
FULHAM goalkeeper Bernd Leno was the hero with two saves in the penalty shootout to knock Manchester United out of the FA Cup. After three precise spot-kicks from both sides, Leno denied Victor Lindelof, then, after skipper Antonee Robinson had extended Fulham’s perfect record, the German also kept out Joshua Zirkzee’s effort to send the Cottagers into the quarter-finals. Fulham had taken the lead in first-half stoppage time when Calvin Bassey was left free at the far post to head in from close range after Rodrigo Muniz had flicked on a corner. But, days after former United captain Roy Keane…